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(No Model.)

J. R. RISDON.

OOMPOSING STIUK. No. 393,267. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT Fries.

JOHN R. RISDON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANKLIN H. HOUGH, OF SAME PLACE.

COMPOSlNG-STICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,267. dated November 20, 1888.

Application filed February 25, 1888. Serial No. 265,277. (No model.)

invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in composing-sticks of that class in which the knee is provided with a means for holding it in its adjusted position; and it has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction and render it much more easy and efficient in operation.

The novelty resides in the peculiar combinations and in the novel construction, are rangement,and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described,shown in the drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

I dispense with the pivoted lever on the inner or top face of the knee and provide upon the outside of the stick push-buttons, actuatating dogs or lugs, which are in convenient position to be operated by the fingers of the hand by the same movement that moves the knee to a different position, and as the fingers are removed after adjusting the knee the same is instantaneously locked in its adjusted position. I also provide a gage, by means of which the knee may be adjusted on a desired em or on one-half em, using two independent dogs or lugs, one for the ems and the other for the half ems, as will be more fully hereinafterset forth. The operating parts are out of sight, protected from the dust and moisture, whereby they are not liable to injury from either of these causes, and also imparting to the devicea comely appearance. 1n theaccompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, is clearly illnstrated what I at the present time consider the 50 preferable form of my improvement; but I do not wish to be confined to the exact construction therein shown and hereinafter described, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a composing-stick embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan ofthe same, with parts broken away and partly in section. Fig. 3 is atransverse section of the same on line 00 w of Fig. 1.

Like letters indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Reference being had to the details of the drawings, A designates the bottom or base plate, 13 the end wall or fixed jaw, and C the back wall,of a composingstic-k formed of any suitable material and of well-known shape. The rear or outer face of the back wall of the stick is formed with a plurality of indents, a

and b, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. These indents extend nearly the entire lengthpf the back wall, and are arranged so that the distance between the indents in each line a or b correspond with the width of an cm of type, and the indents in one line are arranged midway of the space between the indents of the other line. From this arrangement it will be seen that I have two gages representing ems or ens. The upper face of the back wall, C, is preferably provided with indicating-lines 0, corresponding with the indents a and Z), and serving as a guide to the eye in adjusting the knee; but this indexis not necessary,and it may sometimes be omitted.

The knee or movable jaw D is of ordinary construction, except as hereinafter specified. Thebranch d thereof, which fits against the back wall of the stick, is formed with a raised portion, e,extending above the said back wall, and this raised portion is formed with a dovetailed 0 recess, in which fits a correspondingly-shaped flange, f, of the casting E, which is secured therein by means of the screws 9, or other equivalent means, or it may be made to be held therein by reason ofthe engagement ofthe walls 5 of the flange with those of the recess without the employment ofother securing means. This casting is formed longitudinally with a slot, h, to receive the back wall of the stick, and these parts should be so fitted as to permit one part to slide upon the other easily, and yet allow no looseplay. The flanges i and j,which embrace the top and bottom, respectively, of the back Wall, serve as guides for the casting and aid in preventing loose play thereof.

In is a pin secured vertically in said casting, and on this pin within the casting are pivoted two dogs or lugs, F and G, extending in opposite directions, and each provided with a thumb piece or push-button, F G, respectively, which extend through openings Z m in the casting, as shown. are arranged upon different vertical planes, the upper dog, G, engaging the upper row, I), of indents in the back wall of the stick, and the other dog, F, engaging the lower row,a,of indents.

n and 0 are flat springs secured within the casting and acting upon the dogs or lugs F and G, respectively.

I prefer to cast the knee with an angular brace-rod, H, which materially strengthens it and allows of the use of a very light knee; but of course this is immaterial to the operation of the parts above described.

It may at times be found desirable to pro vide the back wall of the stick with but asingle line of indents corresponding in distance apart to the cm of the type used, or of ens, as the case may be, in which instance but a sin gle dog or lug would be necessary, as will be readily understood; but it would be arranged in substantially the same manner as above described and would be within the scope of my invention.

I deem it important that the indents be upon the outer face of the back wall, for by this arrangement the slotting of the back wall is avoided, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt,is

1. The combination, withthebodyofa composing-stick having the outer face of its back wall indented, and the knee, of a pivoted dog on said knee engaging the outer face of the back wallof the stick, substantially as described.

These dogs or lugs 2. The combination, with the body ofaeomposing-stick having the outer face of its back wall indented, and the knee, of an inclosed pivoted dog on said knee engaging the outer face of the back wall of the stick, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the body ofa coniposing-stiek, the outer face of the back wall of which is provided with aseries of indents, and the movable knee, of a casting carried by said knee and arranged outside of said body, and a dog pivoted in said casting outside said body and engaging said indents, substantially as described.

4 The combination, with thebody ofa composing-stick, the back wall of which is formed with two rows of indents, of the movableknce, a casting secured to said knee, and two revcrsely-arranged dogs pivoted in said casting 'upon different vertical planes and engaging said indents, substantially as described.

5. The combination,with the body of the stick, of the knee having a raised portion provided with a recess, as described, acasting having a flange secured in said recess, and a dog pivoted in said casting and engaging the back wall of the body, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the body of the stick and the knee, of the casting carrying a pivoted dog engaging the back wall of said body secured to the knee and formed with flanges *ij, engaging the top and bottom of said back wall,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, with the body of the stick and the knee, of the casting secured to said knee and movable on the back wall of said body, and the dogs pivoted in said casting and provided with projections extended through openings in said casting, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. ltISDON. Witnesses:

Mvna COHEN, FRANKLIN If. Honen. 

